Design for an Andiron
Medium
Classification
Department
Smithsonian Collection
Museum
Smithsonian American Art Museum
Credit
Purchased for the Museum by the Advisory Council
Accession Number
1921-6-532-1
About this artwork
Research in Progress
Art Historical Context
Step into the elegant world of 18th decorative arts with *Design for an Andiron* by Jean François Forty, a French artist active between 1775 and 1790. Created around 1780, this print a refined blueprint for an andiron—one of a pair of ornamental metal stands used to elevate logs in a fireplace, blending functionality with sophisticated design. As a print, it likely served as a reproducible template for artisans, showcasing Forty's skill in translating intricate motifs into precise, scalable illustrations. In the late Enlightenment era, just before the French Revolution, such designs reflected...